Newham

Newham's population increased by about 64,100 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Newham increased by 26.3%, from just under 244,000 to 308,000.

The addition of just over 64,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in London and was the third fastest-growing across England.

In 2011, Newham was home to, on average, 61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Newham

Latest census data also show that the median age of Newham remained 29 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had the second-lowest average age in London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 30,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by almost 700.

About 24.0% of people in Newham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Newham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Newham overtook 12 local authority areas, including Isles of Scilly and Brent, to become the English local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of private renting.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.1%) households in Newham rented privately, compared with 17.6% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 36.1% to 29.6%.

Tower Hamlets saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes (from 16.4% to 32.6%).

Private renting in Newham increased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Newham saw England's largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.1%) households in Newham had only one person, compared with 34.0% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 5.6% to 5.7%.

Barrow-in-Furness saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of one-person households (from 29.9% to 34.6%).

The percentage of households with only one person in Newham decreased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newham, London and England that comprised only one person, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Newham overtook five local authority areas, including Cheltenham and Exeter, to become the English local authority area with the highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.4%) people aged 16 to 74 in Newham said they were in education, compared with 4.3% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 42.7% to 42.4%.

Lincoln saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of students (from 3.7% to 7.0%).

The percentage of students in Newham increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Newham, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Newham saw England's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across London saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 2.0% to 3.3%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (5.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newham said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 9.3% to 7.1%.

Newcastle upon Tyne saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 2.1% to 4.3%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newham increased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newham, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Newham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.1% to 5.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.0% in 2001. The percentage of Newham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.9% to 11.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Newham decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Newham, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Newham

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Newham was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 7.5 points.

In 2011, 34.2% of respondents in Newham gave this religion on the census compared with 26.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as Muslim increased from 9.3% to 13.5%, while across England the percentage went from 3.5% to 5.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 42.7% said they were Christian, compared with 51.4% in 2001. About 10.2% said they had no religion, compared with 9.9% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 7.6% to 9.4%.

In Newham, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 9.0% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population who identified as Muslim in Newham increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Newham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Newham

Newham saw London's third-largest fall in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (10.0%) people aged 16 and over in Newham said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11.2% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married remained close to 40.8%.

Across the region, only Islington (from 12.4% to 10.7%) and City of London (from 12.0% to 10.3%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

Because of its small size, comparisons to City of London should be made with caution.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Newham

In 2011, 43.5% of Newham residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 33.5% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 29.0% of people in Newham said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 39.4% in 2001. About 19.6% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 21.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.4% to 4.5%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Newham increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Newham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Newham

The percentage of Newham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Newham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 4.8% to 4.3%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (which remained close to 91.6%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

The percentage of households in Newham with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.1% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39.2%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 37.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Newham without children decreased from 54.4% to 51.5%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Newham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care decreased from 2.2% to 2.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Newham remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Newham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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